The Head of the Charles Regatta

This past gorgeous weekend, Cambridge, MA played host to one of New England's most beloved events: 

 The Head of the Charles Regatta

My friends and I spent our Sunday sipping coffee in Harvard Square, indulging in autumn's most adored comfort foods, admiring attendees' classic New England style, and, of course, watching the finalists compete for Regatta glory from right beside the Elliot Bridge. 

As this is by far one of my most favorite weekends in Boston, I have constructed an extraordinarily lengthy post on all things HOCR. 

The Head of the Charles Regatta is hosted along a significant portion of the Charles River, although viewers exist in the highest concentration between Harvard Square and just beyond the Elliot Bridge. That said, it only makes sense to start the day by exploring Harvard Square's charming shops and picking up a snack or two. Genevieve and Stephanie particularly enjoyed these subs from Al's, which is notorious for their massive sandwiches. 

If you're looking for something a little sweeter, Kristin would definitely recommend you stop by The Garage's Ben and Jerry's. After all, having grown up in Vermont and worked at the Ben & Jerry's factory herself, she's an expert when it comes to New England's favorite ice cream. 

Speaking of born-and-raised New Englanders, meet Brianna. A lover of monograms, Lilly Pulitzer, and all things pink, this Cape Cod native embraces the New England prep style with open, KJP-decorated arms. And rocks it. 

Another Massachusetts native, my Ann-Taylor-obsessed best friend and former roommate Genevieve has a sophisticated simplicity to her style that I envy. She has an undying ability to look classy while simultaneously looking like she is not trying very hard at all. She also has a talent for making extremely animated facial expressions. (see below)

Up next, of course, is our adopted New Englander: the bubbly, bold-spirited Californian that we half-forced into a pinstripe oxford and sweater pullover. Steph's modern edginess frequently scores her the label of "trendy," but I think it is her ability to assemble a diverse array of styles with a primarily neutral palette that makes her so deserving of the title. Don't let those bright bohemian hues up top fool you.

After some time in the square, we made our way to the riverside, which was lined with tents upon tents of HOCR merch and all of the comfort food your heart could ever desire. We're talking lobster rolls, apple cider donuts, and pumpkin coffee galore. Oh, and let's not forget the chowdah.

One of my personal favorite treats of the day was this apple-cinnamon-white-chocolate-chip muffin.

 I am determined to master the art of baking these little confections of perfection. I plan to start with this recipe that I found on The Little Red Tart. Pair one of these guys with a steaming mug of chai tea, and you have a breakfast that tastes like October. 

After we journeyed over the Elliot Bridge and made our way to the finish line, Brianna and I beelined it for the food tents for a much-needed meal. But, alas, the smell of hot apple crisp caught us off guard, and we instantaneously decided to eat dessert first. 

 We regret nothing.

After stuffing our faces of apple pie in front of dozens of wildly attractive rowers, we decided to bring our classy selves on over to the Brooks Brothers tent. Brooks Brothers, a leading sponsor of the HOCR, also hosted a miniature Kiel James Patrick factory, where some of the beautiful minds behind KJP were making and selling personalized bracelets. We even had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Sarah Vickers, KJP girlfriend, blogging idol and New England belle. She's essentially the Kate Middleton of the East Coast.

Sarah covers her and the rest of the KJP gang's experience at the HOCR on her blog, Classy Girls Wear Pearls. I encourage everyone to go fall in love with her classic style and read on about the Regatta over there. And while you're at it, go pick up a bracelet at Kiel James Patrick. Here are a few of my favorites:

Top: Bonaventure Hull bracelet, $58.
Middle: Royal's Golden Fleet wrap bracelet, $75.
Bottom: Dapper Huey bow bracelet, $40.  

KJP had an extremely successful weekend of sales at the Regatta, but unfortunately sold out of the bracelets I was looking for. Instead, I ended up buying a Brooks Brothers HOCR fleece at the tent, as I was fairly frigid by the end of the afternoon. We snapped a few final pictures by the finish line before I caved and bundled myself up and ran for warmth. 

Next year, I am making sure to clear my entire weekend for the festivities. One day simply isn't enough. 

I am not the only one who is sad the HOCR has come to a close, though. They already have a countdown until next year up on the official website!

See you next year, Elliot. 

David's Tea @ State

David's Tea

298 Washington St. Boston

Tea enthusiasts will undoubtedly fall head over heels for this downtown newbie coming to us from Canada. Teavana better watch out, and not just because David's vast selection rivals that of everyone's favorite elite loose-leaf supplier. The feel of the store is much more relaxed than Teavana's high-pressure have-a-free-sample-and-endure-me-standing-over-your-shoulder-until-you-by-seventy-dollars-worth-of-oolong vibe. And don't tell my barista friends over at the Prudential Teavana, but their teas are kind of cooler too. Love Tea #7 is my current favorite. 

Beantown Brunch #1

Beantown Brunches #1 : Sorella's 

Located down Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Sorella's serves a fabulous homestyle brunch. Its less-than-typical layout (spread throughout multiple rooms between two buildings) and seemingly limitless menu distinguishes it from the rest of its kind, but I'm going to have to say that it's the french toast that will keep you coming back. Right around the corner from the hill, it's an ideal morning-after brunch spot that's a little cheaper than Thornton's and is just far enough out of the way that it will prevent you from running into all of your fellow Back Bay dwellers in your state of hungover hideousness. 

New York Pizza

435 Mass Ave, Boston, MA

New York Pizza is my go-to late-night pizza place. (Yeah, yeah, I know, the name needs a little work.)

little things #4: casual Fridays

We have reached that fantastic time of year where every building with central air continues to blast AC despite ever-declining temperatures. Doomed to the business casual staples of dress pants, khakis, blouses, and button-downs, I often find myself depending on my lab coat for warmth. But not on Fridays. 

The warmth of jeans and cords, riding boots, and cable-knit sweaters are all welcomed on the beloved Casual Friday. As if Fridays weren't great enough already. 

You said it, Archer. 

take what you need, give what you've got

Mental Health Awareness Week in the United States began on Sunday, October 6. Every year since 1990, the first full week of October is spent raising awareness of mental health and disorders, as well as encouraging people to get the help they need. 

   To promote self-awareness among my residents, I made signs encouraging people to "take what you need." Thinking back on my sophomore year of college, I considered all of the less-than-tangible needs I couldn't always find or formulate for myself and made them a little more within reach.  

Within less than 24 hours, all of the tabs from each of the four posters I hung were missing. To say that the response I witnessed was powerful would truly be an understatement; through four sheets of white paper and a few words in black typeface, I learned more about the people around me than I had during my last month with them. And while, initially, I experienced feelings of sympathy as I noticed words like "love" and "hope" had gone missing, those feelings were replaced in very little time by a sense of accomplishment. As one of my residents later said to me from behind a calculus textbook, in between sips of coffee, "Time isn't something you can go buy more of when you run out of it. Hope isn't something you can pick up off the street. But the other day, there was patience, hanging up on the wall." 

Patience, confidence, healing, change, a bit of luck, a new start--these aren't the kinds of things that are things. You can't always find them. More often than not, they find you. 

Outfit of the Day 10.10

Black riding boots - Me Too (exact brand, similar)

Skinny pants - H&M (exact, color discontinued)

Down puffer vest - Land's End (exact)

Cable-knit sweater - J. Crew (exact brand, similar) (exact brand, similar)

from Boston to Brooksby

One rainy morning this past weekend, a good friend and I took a spur-of-the-moment trip to Brooksby Farm. Located in Peabody, MA, the farm is only 30-40 minutes out of the city, though it feels like a different world. 

little things #3: impromptu photobooths

You know that period of time where you are still figuring out how close you are with a new friend group? It's right after that span of time where everyone is just getting to know each other, when there is still so much to talk about, still so much to learn and to do and to laugh at. And then that transitions into this weird stage of friendship where everyone is feeling a little more comfortable with each other, and there is a sturdy foundation of inside jokes and embarrassing moments that aren't embarrassing anymore, but you're still not at the point where you can hang out and just do your own thing and have a perfectly good time not saying anything at all. It doesn't last very long, but when it passes, what's next is that rather spectacular, heart-warming, effortless friendship you know from 90s sitcoms and summercamp. 

This past weekend, part of my staff celebrated the 21st birthday of one of our own. Between arguments over the birthday card selection in Whole Foods and team-wallflowering at a party full of acquaintances, I think that level of friendship was reached. Obviously, there is a warm fuzziness inspired by spur-of-the-moment photoshoots and late-night life-talks that we will always associate with our very best friends. But when you all stay up snuggling until three AM, talking about everything from true love to flatulence, you should know that you've got something there. When you can dive atop each other on a stranger's couch and take embarrassing photos on a camera that doesn't even belong to you long before the night has actually started, that's friendship. 

More goofy photos....